Report: Padres, Royals still talking to Eric Hosmer

The San Diego Padres and Kansas City Royals have not given up their reported pursuit of free agent first baseman Eric Hosmer.

According to Dennis Lin of the Athletic, both the Royals and Padres have kept in contact with Hosmer’s agent Scott Boras recently. The Padres have reportedly stepped up their interest in the last few days.

The Padres have an offer on the table to Hosmer, but it is said to be for less than $140 million. Padres team officials believe the Royals may have submitted a higher bid, but are comfortable with their own offer. The fact that Hosmer hasn’t signed with either yet, however, indicates that, at least for the moment, neither proposal is satisfactory.

Reports have indicated that Hosmer is seeking a very lengthy deal. That, more than money, may be a sticking point, though we don’t know a lot about what’s on the table for him at the moment.